Coaling station



NOV. 21, 1939. 5 s w 2,180,913

COALING STATION Filed April 4, 1938 ssheets-sheet 2 M I il "mm 2 Mm, 1 4

Nov. 21, 1939. B. s. SNOW 2,180,913

COALING STATION Filed April 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In ve7zz o7". jarfon 95303720 Patented Nov. 21, 1939 NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 4, 1938-, Serial No. 199,981

11 Claims.

My invention relates, more particularly, to railway coaling stations for supplying coal to 1000- motive tenders.

Tenders of present day railway equipment present a wide range in length and height, which has presented a serious problem in providing coaling stations suitable for properly loading coal into tenders of all sizes.

One of my objects is to provide improvements in coaling stations which will solve the problem referred to and not only provide for the loading of coal into tenders of widely varying heights and lengths but also to effect a substantially uniform distribution of the coal in such tenders.

I Another object is to provide a simple construction of coaling station having the adaptabilities above noted, which shall be of relatively economical construction and require the minimum effort on the part of the operator in the use of the installation.

Another object relates to counterweighting or counterbalancing mechanism for use generally in connection with laterally swingabl'e aprons or chutes, especially those which have relatively great lateral swinging movement and more particularly in connection with the aprons or chutes of, coaling stations through which the coal discharges into the tenders; my object in this connection being to provide a novel and simple construction of counterweighting apparatus and which shall be eminently suitable for use with aprons or chutes having relatively great lateral swinging movement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a coaling station embodying my invention, certain of the parts of the structure being shown broken away; the coal controlling means shown by full and dotted lines in several different positions.

Figure 2 is a section taken at the line 22 on Fig, l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a section taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. I

Figure 4 is a section taken at the irregular line 4-4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional View of counterbalancing means for the movable chute member of the structure, with portions of the means broken away, the section being taken at the line 5 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 6, a sectional view taken at the line .6

on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the preferred illustrated embodiment of my invention, 1 represents a storage bin,

or receptacle, for the coal, which, in accordance with common practice, would be located to one side of the track along which the tenders to be supplied with coal, operate, the bin 1 having a sloping bottom 8 on which the coal in the bin rests, the front wall 9 of the bin having an outlet represented at H! at the lower end of the bottom wall 8.

Registering with the outlet Ill and extending laterally from the bin and inclined downwardly toward the track referred to, is a stationary chute member ll secured to the front'wall 9 of'the bin and shown as in the form of a trough having spaced apart side walls I2, a bottom wall l3, a top wall l4 adjacent the bin, and an angle iron cross bar portion l5 secured to the upper edges of the side walls of the chute H and extending crosswise thereof.

Cooperating with the chute II is a swinging gravity-closing gate member represented generally at l6 and shown of general yoke form presenting spaced apart side plates l! forming side members, a rear plate portion l8 of curved shape in cross section and a cover plate IS. The gate device which extends between the side walls l2 of the chute II with its plate portion [8 adjacent the outer end of the top wall l4 of the chute, is pivoted at the forward ends of its side portions l l on a shaft secured to ears 2i carried by, and extending upwardly from, the sides of the chute adjacent their forward ends.

The gate I6 is provided with an operating lever 22 which is located midway between the sides I! of the gate and is pivoted at its rear end to the rear end of the gate by a pin 23 carried by spaced apart upwardly extending ears on the cover plate l9.

In the normal closed position of the gate its cover l9 inclines downwardly and forwardly and in order that the lever 22 may be accommodated tothe position occupied by other parts of the construction, that portion of the lever represented at M which extends forwardly from the gate is disposed at an angle to the rear portion of the lever as shown and is provided at its forward end with a stirrup 25 to be grasped by the operator for pulling the gate to open position. the two angularly extending portions of the lever 22 being shown as braced by a brace bar 26.

Also cooperating with the chute member II is a movable chute member, or apron, 21, forming an extension of the chute member II and pro-, vided for directing the coal from the chute member ll into the tender to be supplied with the coal.

The chute member 21 is in the form of a trough presenting a bottom wall 28 and spaced apart side walls 29, the bottom wall 28 terminating short of the front ends of the Side walls 29 as shown in Fig. 2. The side walls 29 are connected together at their front ends by a front plate 38 located forwardly of the front edge of the bottom wall 28 and with the latter and the adjacent portions of the side walls 29 defining an opening,

3| through which the coal flowing down the chute 21 discharges. Hand-grips 32 provided on the side walls 29 and a step 33 on the front plate 38 being provided for the usual purposes.

The chute 21 extends at its rear end in telescoped relation to the front end of the chute member I l, the latter extending into the chute 21.

In accordance with my invention the chute 21 is adapted for up and down swinging movement, sliding movement toward and away from the bin, and lateral swinging movement at its discharge end. To render the chute adapted for such movements the chute is provided of considerably greater internal width than the external width of the chute member H and is supported at its bottom wall 28 on a series of rollers 34, 35 and 36, shown as three in number, mounted on shafts 31, 38 and 39, respectively, journalled in brackets 48 mounted below the chute 21 on a cross member 4! secured to a pair of upwardly extending housings 42 fastened, as by brackets 43, to uprights at the front wall 9 of the bin, the chute l I being secured to these brackets. The central roller 36 is shown as crowned and the chute 21 at its underside as provided with a downwardly facin cylindrically concaved surface 44, shown as provided by a member 45 separate from, but secured to, the chute 21, at which surface the chute rests on the roller 36.

Stop means are provided to limit in and out movement of the chute, the means shown comprising end plates 48 and 41 on the member 45, into the path of movement of which the roller 36 extends in the reciprocations of the chute 21.

The apparatus also comprises means for counter-balancing the heavier outer end of the chute 27, these means comprising the housings 42 above referred to, forwardly extending arms 48 connected at their rear ends with heads 49 shown as formed of the sections 58 and 5| rigidly secured together and rotatably mounted on the upper ends of the housings 42; pulleys journalled at heads 49 and the forward ends of the arms 48, respectively, the pulleys for one of the arms being shown at 52 and 53 and their journal supports at 54 and 55; a tubular member 56 extending above, and connected with, the arms 48; braces 51 for the arms connected at their forward ends to the forward ends of the arms and pivotally connected at their rear ends to the housings 42 as shown at 58 of the brace illustrated in Fig. 5; a connecting bar 59 extending crosswise of the chute 21 and pivotally connected at its ends as represented at 68 and BI to-the forward ends of the arms 48; flexible elements 62, as for example cables, extending into the housings 42, over the pulleys 52 and 53 and through the sheathings 56 connected at their forward depending ends to the chute 21 at opposite sides of the latter; and counterweights 63, one for each housing 42, slidable in the housings and connected with the rear .1?

pending ends, respectively, of the flexible elements 62.

In the normal positions of the parts, namely, when the apparatus is out of coaling position the chute is in the upwardly and forwardly inclined position as represented by the upper dotted line representation of the chute in Fig. 1, in which position sufficient clearance is provided between it and the rolling stock to comply with clearance regulations. In this position of the chute 21 the gate I8 is closed and its operating lever 22, owing to the raised position of the chute 21, extends. in the upper dotted position shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to discharge coal from the bin into a tender alongside thereof, the operator pulls down on the chute 21 swinging it on the rollers 34, 35 and 36 and, if conditions require, pulls the chute outwardly and swings it laterally to the desired position over the tender. He then pulls down on the lever 22 to open the gate l8 to permit coal to flow from the bin into and through the chutes I l and 27 and into the tender.

As shown by the lower dotted representation of the chute 21 in Fig. 1, the discharge end thereof when the chute is pulled out to the limit of its movement, is adapted to extend to a lower elevation than when the chute 21 occupies its innermost position as shown by the full line representation in this figure. This is due to the fact that in proportioning the parts of the structure clearance is provided between the bottom member I3 of the chute member II and the bottom member 28 of the chute member 21, this clearance by way of example, being about onefourth inch. To limit the degree of forward tilting of the chute 2'! in the lower dotted position in Fig. 1, the rear portion of the bottom wall 28 of the chute, and represented at 64, is extended rearwardly and at an angle to the body of the bottom wall 28 and in the downwardly tilted position of the chute 21 engages the bottom wall I3 of the chute member II.

The adaptability of the chute member 21 for the various movements herein described, not only permits of the use of the apparatus for the satisfactory discharge of coal into tenders presenting a wide range in height, but also in length, and permits of the discharge of coal substantially along the medial lines of tenders throughout substantially the length of the tenders, even when the tenders are of relatively long length, thereby eifecting a highly desirable distribution of the coal in the tenders.

The provision of counterbalancing means as shown and described presents great practical advantages in connection with a member to be counterbalanced and swingable laterally throughout a considerable range particularly inasmuch as by providing for the lateral swinging of the counterbalancing means with the member counterbalanced thereby, the overhead structure of the counterbalancing means may be located at a relatively low elevation and the flexible means supporting the counterbalanced member may be provided of relatively short length.

As an adjunct to the apparatus the chute 21 is shown as provided with means which become automatically energized when the chute is rocked to downwardly inclined position, to provide a light to enable the operator to properly position the chute relative to the tender and watch the operation of filling the tender with coal. These means comprise an electric lamp represented at 65 supported On an upright 66 secured to the chute 2'! and connected with any suitable source of electric current supply through the medium of wires 67 inwhich is interposed a tilting mercury switch 68 which may be of well known construction and which operates when-the chute is tilted downwardly to close the circuit to the lamp and when the chute is raised to automatically break the circuit. While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it'thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spiritof the invention.

What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the coal having an outlet, a chute for receiving coal from said outlet'and presenting a downwardly facing concave surface adjacent its inlet end, and roller means on which the chute at its inlet'end bears adapting the chute to be swung up and down and slid toward and away from the receptacle comprising a roller with which said concave surface engages.

2. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, and means engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute and exerting upward force against said chute.

3. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and supported for in and out movement, up and down swinging movement and lateral movement, and counterbalancing means for said chute'comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing laterally with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which they are pivotally supported and means engaging said chute at the opposite sides of said chute substantially midway between the ends of said chute and engaging said arms at points substantially directly above the connection of said last-named means with said chute for exerting upward force against said chute.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the coal having an outlet, a chute for receiving coal from said outlet and presenting a downwardly facing concaved surface adjacent its inner end and roller means on which the chute at its inlet end bears adapting the chute to be swung up and down and laterally and slid toward and away from the receptacle comprising a roller with which said con caved surface engages, the inlet end of the chute being free of obstruction to limited lateral movement at its discharge end.

5. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement and up and down movement at its outer end, and counterba'lancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides "or the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, and means engaging said arms outwa'rdly beyond their points ofpivotal support and also engaging said chute and exerting upward force against saidchute.

6. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet. a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, flexible elements engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute, and means engaging said'flexible elements operating through said flexible elements, to exert upward force against said chute.

'7. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement and up and down movement at its outer end, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivot-' ally supported, flexible elements engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute, and means engaging said flexible elements operating, through said flexible elements, to exert upward force against said chute.

8. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the centerline of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, and means engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute and exerting upward force against said chute, said brace bar connecting said arms together in inwardly swung converging position in opposition to the tendency of said last-named means to swing said arms in an outward direction.

9. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement and up and down movement at its outer end, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, and means engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute and exerting upward force against said chute, said brace bar connecting said arms together in inwardly swung converging position in opposition to the tendency of said last-named means toswing said arms in an outward direction.

10. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, flexible elements engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute, and means engaging said flexible elements operating through said flexible elements, to exert upward force against said chute, said brace bar connecting said arms together in inwardly swung converging position in opposition to the tendency of said last-named means to swing said arms in an outward direction.

11. In combination, a receptacle having an outlet, a chute communicating with said outlet and mounted for lateral swinging movement and up and down movement at its outer end, and counterbalancing means for said chute comprising arms located above said chute and extending generally lengthwise of said chute at opposite sides of the center line of said chute and pivotally supported to swing with said chute, a brace bar flexibly connected with said arms outwardly beyond the points at which said bars are pivotally supported, flexible elements engaging said arms outwardly beyond their points of pivotal support and also engaging said chute, and means engaging said flexible elements operating through said flexible elements, to exert upward force against said chute, said brace bar connecting said arms together in inwardly swung converging position in opposition to the tendency of said last-named means to swing said arms in an outward direction.

BARTON S. SNOW. 

